Dominant England defeat Wales in Cardiff in final Six Nations game
England put in a dominant display as they scored 10 tries to beat Wales comprehensively to finish second in the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations. Maro Itoje, Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Chandler Cunningham-South (2), Will Stuart, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock (2) and Joe Heyes all scored tries and 10 points from Fin Smith's boot and eight from Marcus Smith saw England win 14-68. Wales scored through Ben Thomas (2), with Gareth Anscombe and Jarrod Evans converting.
England began at a pace befitting of the occasion as Fin Smith found an excellent touch from an early penalty. From the five-metre lineout Tom Curry wrapped around and created momentum, before Itoje picked from the base to power over. Fin Smith then converted for a 0-7 lead with just two minutes on the clock.
Five minutes later Wales looked to have hit back as Blair Murray scooped up a loose ball to run in from 45 metres, but Tomos Williams was offside in the build up and the try was chalked off.
Soon after England showed good strength to win a scrum penalty and Fin Smith found a deep touch again. From the lineout Elliot Daly carried hard up the middle and a few phases later Fin Smith fizzed a pass to Roebuck who reached out to score on his first international start. Fin Smith added the extras to give England a 14-point lead 10 minutes in.
10 minutes later, Murray almost broke free thanks to a clever chip, but a brilliant tap tackle by Luke Cowan-Dickie allowed England to reorganise.
As the game approached the half-hour mark, Wales won a penalty at the breakdown and Anscombe kicked for touch. They won the lineout and a few phases later Thomas went over, before Anscombe converted to make it 7-14.
From the restart, Ben Curry charged down Anscombe’s clearance to give England a platform in the Welsh half. Soon after, a pinpoint cross-field kick from Fin Smith found Roebuck who was brought down just short of the line.
However, a few phases later Fin Smith’s well-timed pass put Freeman through a gap to become the first Englishman to score in each game of a Six Nations campaign. His Northampton Saints teammate converted again to restore the 14-point lead.
England continued to show their ambition to score and just a couple of minutes later Cunningham-South – who had replaced the injured Ollie Chessum – crashed over from close range for the bonus-point try. Fin Smith converted to put his side 7-28 ahead.
On the stroke of half-time the ball ricocheted off Ellis Genge’s head and Fraser Dingwall regathered to find Ben Curry on his inside. Curry was tackled short, but England recycled quickly for Stuart to score on his 50th appearance for his country. Fin Smith was unable to convert, but England took a 7-33 lead into the changing rooms.
Five minutes into the second half, Wales found themselves with a scrum five metres from England’s line, but once the ball was out Ben Curry made a fantastic steal to keep the hosts out.
Shortly after, Wales were back in England’s 22, but Ellis Mee’s offload was knocked on over the line and England held out again.
Wales continued to threaten, but 15 minutes into the half the ball was headed once again, this time by Daly, and Mitchell hacked ahead to score and Fin Smith converted.
With an hour played, England returned to the opposition 22 and won successive penalties, before an excellent pass from George Ford found debutant Pollock on the wing to score. Marcus Smith then converted to put England 7-47 ahead.
Steve Borthwick’s side showed their attacking intent by scoring almost immediately after. Cunningham-South stole the ball at the lineout and Tom Willis broke through the Welsh defence, before offloading off the deck to Heyes for his first international try. Marcus Smith added the extras to make it 7-54.
As the clock ticked towards 80, Wales were determined to get a consolation try and did so through Thomas, who was played in by Evans who then converted.
However, England were desperate to have the last say as Ford found Pollock again, this time on a smart inside line, to charge over for his second of the game. Marcus Smith then converted to make it 14-61.
Even then, England found themselves surging into the Welsh 22 as the clock ticked over and Cunningham-South powered onto Jack van Poortvliet’s pass to score. Marcus Smith continued his perfect record off the tee to make it 14-68 and seal victory.
England were momentarily top of the table before France's win over Scotland, but ultimately the team had to settle for second as they finished just one point behind France in the final 2025 Six Nations standings.
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